The Arizona champion., 1887-03-05
DOWN TO DEATH.
A Passenger Tram Plunges Through Bridge Four Miles West of the
 Needles.


 A terrible accident occurred on Saturday night last about foui miles west of the Needles. A bridge had been burned and the engine, baggage, mail and express cars plunged down the ravine which the bridge had spanned.
 The engine which was the first to make the descent took with it the en- gineer and brakeman, both of whom were quickly killed. The mail clerk, who was in the mail car, and the baggageman in charge of the baggage car, both of which cars came crashing down upon the engine, were badly injured, while on top of them fell the Pullman sleeper, filled with passengers,s about preparing to retire for the night.
 Whether the engine and three cars completely filled the chasm, thereby preventing the remainder of the tram from sharing like fate, or the re. maining coaches were saved by the parting of the couplings, is not ex- plained. As soon as the first shock had abated the passengers in the un- injured coaches set to work to save their unfortunate fellow travellers. It was found impossible to render any assistance to the brakeman, Indians and tramp who were burned in the ruins of the cars at the bottom of the burning heap and could not be reached. They were left to the aw- fal fate which quickly overlook them. From the Pullman cars resting on top of the debris the passengers were ex- tricated before the flames had com pletely enveloped it. Of these eight are said to have been severely injured. Others were also badly hurt.
 Assistance was sent for from the Needles and all the medical men along the line telegraphed for. Drs. Brannen and Cornish went down from Flagstaff.
 The engineer, E. ]. Hodgdon, a brakeman, E. L. Gilbert, two Indians and one tramp were killed, The last four were burned alive. The Indians and the tramp were stealing rides on what IS known as the blind baggage.
 All of the wrecked cars, including the forward sleeper, were burned and it IS most astonishing that the loss of life was not greater. That it was not IS greatly due to the great self-posses- sion and heroic efforts of F. A. Pooley, the Pullman conductor, who seized an axe and liberated the pas- sengers from his sleeper,
 Among the badly injured were ]. l.. Dickinson, the Pullman porter, who was found with his legs forced through the roof of his car and one ot them broken. Before he was extri cated he drew a pencil and paper from his pocket and wrote his will, leaving to his sister and brother s9,- Soe which he had on deposit la Topeka bank,
 Emmett Hodgden, the unfortunate engineer, stood herolcally at his post and went down with his engine. He died shortly after he was taken out of the debris. He lived in Albuquerque with his mother, iu whose favor he had life insurance of S4,ooo. The brakeman was wedged in and burned to death. Among the badly injured were Judge Marsh, of Topeka, and Mail Agent E. L. Pippin, Dl. M. J. Chase, of Harrisburg. Major Rath bone, of San Francisco, and lew others were slightly injured.
 The express car carried about S24o, 900 in bullion about SG7o, 900 WAS saved, the balance being Iaelted dowa.
 The fire originated from coal oil lamp in the maIl car which exploded. The entire mail was destroyed.
 This IS tho first serious accident the A. & P. road has had for several years. An inquest was held and the cororer's jury exonerated the compa- ny from all blame.